The “On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign will work to reduce accidents on the state’s roadways and waterways, which see increased traffic this time of year. Unfortunately, too many accidents are alcohol-related. In North Carolina, a driver or vessel operator with a blood-alcohol concentration that meets or exceeds .08 or is appreciably impaired by alcohol and/or drugs is subject to arrest.

The campaign is made up of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, Wildlife Resources Commission, State Highway Patrol, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Forensic Tests for Alcohol, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard and local police and sheriff’s offices, along with participating organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who work for public safety in their communities.

“On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive is more than an annual law enforcement campaign,” said Sgt. David Jordan, a Commission wildlife officer stationed in Pender County. “It’s a partnership, with the most important partner being a safe and responsible public.”

Officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and special increased patrols during busy holiday periods, combined with special messaging strategies to increase awareness of the dangerous consequences of impaired driving.